Fire departments battle blaze west of Ann Arbor
Courtesy of Molly Walters
- Updated story: Barn fire west of Ann Arbor kills more than 300 animals, including horse, steer, rabbits and chicks
Multiple fire departments were responding to a fire that destroyed a centennial barn west of Ann Arbor on Wednesday morning.
The barn as it appeared shortly before noon Wednesday.
Danny Shaw | AnnArbor.com
The fire was reported around 11 a.m. Chelsea, Dexter, Scio and Manchester fire departments remained on scene at 12:20 p.m., and firefighters were waiting for the smoke to clear to assess the damage.
There are six out buildings located on the property and at least two of them were damaged, Chief James Payeur of the Chelsea fire department said. A family of five lived in the home, which was scorched in the back, close to the barn.
"Thank God we were at home and not work, because we would most definitely have been in there," Welshans said.
The barn recently had electrical upgrades. There was no indication of the cause of the fire. Despite initial reports, no hay was stored in the barn. Firefighters said at least one propane tank exploded during the fire, likely in the back of the barn, where a number of tanks were stored.
Scio Church is closed between Parker and just before Steinbach.
No one was injured in the blaze.
This story will be updated as more information is available.
Comments
Janine Asher
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 9:04 p.m.
Kathy, 200 rabbits? They way you talk you can't show rescue rabbits in 4H, That would be very sad to teach children that you have to have special rabbits to show. I thought 4H was to teach children about animals, and caring for them. I believe any rescue group would raise their eyebrows to 200 of any animal. Don't you care about all of the animals that don't have homes. I DO. The poor animals are the ones I feel sorry for, they cannot be given their life back. The barn can, and the insurance company will rebuild the barn and replace everything inside it. As well as pay the people the value of the animals, Not that you can every pay the value of a life. Sounds like you are the one judging me. I am a true animal person and true animal people don't want breeding, they want homes for the homeless animals. I do feel badly for the children losing their pets. Ask a rescue maybe Mid West Rabbit Rescue what they think about someone having 200 rabbits. I can't be the only one not happy to hear this.
Janine Asher
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 5:52 p.m.
On the news today they said a barn in this area burned and that there were 200 rabbits as well as other animals. I am wondering what someone is doing with 200 rabbits? When I hear this I think about Mid West Rabbit Rescue and how many rabbits are there needing a home. Maybe this was a rescue, I don't know, but if it isn't why did they have 200 rabbits? With all of the animals that are in need of a home in shelters and rescues I don't think anyone should be breeding any animal. I feel very sorry for all of the animals that lost their lives in this terrible fire.
kathy
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 7:35 p.m.
What buisness is it of yours how many rabbits they had??? These little girls had show animals that they loved. Most of the rabbits in shelters are mixed breeds or rabbits that some backyard breeder had no buisness breeding for (to make that $5 per 5 week old bunny to push out in to the pet market). If you want strictly a pet yes... go shop in a shelter. But, for those who enjoy showing their animals, a pet from a rescue is not going to cut it. Most wouldn't even be allowed on the show table, due to DQs and lack of quality. I too feel for the animals, but also for those little girls who lost them. And How Rude to pass judgement on someone going through such a terrible ordeal! This family lost animals that were a part of their family!
Krissa Welshans
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 2:49 a.m.
I'm Doug and Robin's daughter-in-law. There have been many offers of help, so I have set up an e-mail account and paypal account for anyone wanting to help. The e-mail address is welshansfamilybenefit@gmail.com. Help is very much needed and the family is thankful for all of the kind offers.
Ann English
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 11:22 p.m.
It was just Arrow Book fiction, but in one such book I read decades ago, in the midst of a conversation about kittens and barn kittens, the farmer's wife told a city girl that barn kittens are warm in the cattle barns in the winter because of the cows' body heat. I've never considered asking a real farmer about that idea. Danny, that intersection is where four townships meet: Lima, Scio, Lodi and Freedom. When the story is updated, tell us the township it is in.
Jeff Renner
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 10:22 p.m.
Very sad. More details at the Dexter Leader's story at http://www.heritage.com/articles/2012/04/11/dexter_leader/news/doc4f85b3b75467a028675022.txt
justcurious
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 8:59 p.m.
I just read that "the barn had hundreds of rabbits, a couple of 4-h beef cattle and at least one horse that perished in the fire." Truly terrible. There was a terrible barn fire near Grass Lake several weeks ago as well where many horses died.
justcurious
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 8:45 p.m.
I know this is devastating for this family. I'm so sorry to hear about this and feel terrible for any animals that were killed and injured.
dwcwork
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 8:02 p.m.
Used to drive by this intersection whenever we visited my parents. We would wind down the windows and listen to the peepers in the water every spring. Such a nice area. Sorry to hear about the fire. Haven't been there since I moved to CA. I hate to see old landmarks change. Sad day.
Jim
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 7:38 p.m.
Has anyone noticed how many old wood structures have burned down in the last few years? Yankee Air Force Museum and Great Lakes Roller Rink come to mind.
jns131
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 10:41 p.m.
Yankee was electrical and the roller rink was kitchen. With this fire? It is yet to be determined. As for a sprinkler system? Not sure if that can be done in an unheated barn. My other question is this. Why was PI HI kitchen fire not reported? That is all the children are talking about this week.
15crown00
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 7:23 p.m.
tough loss but the world goes on.
Mousedeva
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 7:17 p.m.
With all these horrible barn fires going on, perhaps it should be encouraged to have smoke detectors and a sprinkler system installed. It would help on insurance, non? Poor animals...........
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 9:15 p.m.
since barns are unheated I don't know how a sprinkler system might work with our winters.
ArthGuinness
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 5:42 p.m.
I'm glad no humans were hurt, but it sounds like some animals might have been trapped? I hope not, but my condolences if they were.
Krystal
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:23 p.m.
Seriously? Who cares what day. Thats my parent's barn that just burned
Jeannette Gutierrez
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 11:24 p.m.
Dear Krystal, Thank you for reminding us that there are human beings behind the stories we read here. My deepest sympathy goes out to you and your family for the financial trauma of losing an important part of your family's security and livelihood, the emotional trauma of losing your valued, and most likely loved, animals in such a terrible way, and the sadness of losing a treasured part of your family legacy. Very sincere condolences.
timbow
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 7:56 p.m.
Krystal- Your Keystone family is all praying for your and the family.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 5:52 p.m.
Sorry about the lose of your parents barn (and livestock?) Krystal. But I don't think correcting errors in a story is either "trolling" or nitpicking" as mentioned by others. . Facts are important. For instance the original version mentioned a Hay barn not a livestock barn. A fact we would all agree needed correcting.
Laura Jones
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 5:20 p.m.
Krystal - just ignore the trolls. Thanks for making the priorities clear to folks, though. Hope you and your family get through this OK.
bobslowson
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 5:19 p.m.
Yes who cares what day indeed! Beyond the damage...I pray that the animals made it out of there alive...I can't imagine the horror's of "death by fire"
Jared Mauch
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:36 p.m.
Krystal, Hope no animals were hurt and your parents are coping ok. It was quite a scene. I called 911 at 1053 and they were already aware of the fire. Some people love to nitpick, best thing is to ignore them.
Sally
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 3:42 p.m.
You're getting ahead of yourself. Today is Wednesday.
Elizabeth Smallwood
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 3:42 p.m.
Today is Wednesday, yet this article states that the fire started on Thursday morning?
SMC
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 3:50 p.m.
Tomorrow's news, today.
Cindy Heflin
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 3:45 p.m.
That's been fixed. Thank you.
Dog Guy
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 3:41 p.m.
"Multiple fire departments are responding to a fire that engulfed a hay barn west of Ann Arbor on Thursday morning." It is Wednesday and I am reading the Early Edition; gotta run.
Elizabeth Smallwood
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 3:43 p.m.
You beat me to it by a couple of seconds!